Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Other Disney World Lodging Options
Besides the Disney-owned value, moderate and deluxe resorts, there are other options as
well—none of which we particularly recommend:
• The Disney-owned multi-room spaces at the Disney Vacation club resorts.
• The Disney-owned Campsites at Fort Wilderness.
• The on-property, non-Disney-owned hotels: the Swan, Dolphin, Shades of Green,
Four Seasons, and the hotels of the Downtown Disney Resort Area.
• Everything else—the offsite hotels and vacation homes.
The positives and negatives of these choices vary, so we'll comment briefly on each.
Multi-Room Villas at Disney Vacation Club Resorts
The Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts at Walt Disney World are time-shares with
rooms that can also be booked via cash reservations, just like any other Disney World resort
hotel room.
Except for the studios, which we've already discussed in the “Deluxe Resorts” section,
above, what's distinct about the accommodations in these DVC resorts is the extra space
and large kitchens—neither of which will be used much during a first visit.
These villas can also be reserved (usually at a huge cost saving) by privately renting
“points” from Disney Vacation Club members.
For most first-time family visitors, the Disney Vacation Club Resorts are worth consid-
ering only under a few circumstances:
• Large families, especially those aimed at a deluxe property, who are not willing
to bet on actually getting connecting rooms. (You can request connecting rooms
at WDW, but getting them is not guaranteed.) Villas which can sleep 8, 9, and 12
people are available.
• Smaller families looking to spread out into a One or Two-Bedroom Villa, despite
the higher price.
• Families aimed at a deluxe hotel, but who can only pull it off through the cost sav-
ings of renting DVC points.
• Families who have targeted a resort with which a DVC property is paired, find it is
sold out, but can get into the DVC resort.
• People who already are DVC owners.
All of the DVC resorts except Saratoga Springs and Old Key West are paired with a de-
luxe resort and mostly share the pros and cons of that resort in terms of convenience, kid
appeal, dining, amenities, and such.
There are, however, some real variances across the DVC resorts in the livability of their
rooms.
Studios add to the routine amenities of a deluxe room a microwave and toaster, and gen-
erally sleep four in a queen and a fold out-sofa. Old Key West Studios have two queens.
Studios in the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge (“VWL”), the Polynesian, and the Villas at
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